Former Leafs coach reveals how he plans to keep himself in line this season
This summer, the Columbus Blue Jackets made a splash when they offered ex-Leafs head coach Mike Babcock a chance at redemption. The Blue Jackets believe in second chances and felt as though Babcock had learned enough from his previous time in the league and how it ended to warrant giving him another opportunity to show that he has changed and grown since 2019.
The players in Columbus have largely expressed their excitement to have the chance to work with a decorated coach like Babcock. However, there is clearly still some concern that Babs simply doesn't know where the line is. Thankfully, Babcock is coming into the 2023-24 season with a plan to help mitigate any potential issues of him crossing the line.
Babcock revealed, during an interview with NHL.com, that he had had a meeting with a player while still coaching at home in Saskatchewan. Babcock had his son present, as he was one of his assistants at the time. After concluding the meeting and feeling good about the way it had gone, Babcock says he was approached by his son, who informed him that the player felt picked on during the meeting. It was an eye-opening experience for Babcock, who now has established a system to prevent himself from crossing any more lines. With the help of an Ohio State expert, Babcock reveals that he is coming into this season with a communication plan with each of his players.
I want them to tell me how they want to be talked to, how they want to meet. Some guys don't ever want to come into your office. Are you getting them a coffee? Are you getting them under the stands on the way out? I used to skate around with guys before (practice), but now if you skate around with a guy, there's an article (written about it), so you can't do that."
Babcock says he wants the players to know that he is open to changing the way things are done if it means better communication overall.
Babcock has always been a demanding coach. A hard-nosed coach. A no-nonsense coach. So how is that going to change? Well, in Babcock's mind, it begins with being fair and respectful.
Now it's way easier [when] you meet with a veteran guy. He [doesn't] mind telling you. You meet with a kid, it's going to be harder for them to be comfortable at the start.
You want to push them, not offend them. You want to help them maximize their skill set. You don't want to push them away; you want to pull them in. You want to be there for them.
The other thing: It takes a long time to build up trust; it can be wrecked in a second."
A lesson he learned in his final days in Toronto, no doubt.
Babcock also wants to focus on the mental health of each of his players. The veteran coach has been a mental health advocate for quite some time, but as we all know, sometimes it can be hard to practice what you preach. Babcock has done a lot of work on himself in this department over the last number of years. Here's what he had to say about mental health ahead of his first year coaching in Columbus.
Only time will tell how this all develops. I'm a big believer in second chances as well. A man is more than the worst thing he's ever done. If Babcock did wrong during his previous stint in the league, we should certainly give him the opportunity to prove that he has learned, grown and changed. After all, wouldn't you want others to extend you the same courtesy?
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 9 | 189 ANSWERS Former Leafs coach reveals how he plans to keep himself in line this season Do you believe Mike Babcock has learned his lesson, or will we see the same old Mike Babcock before long? | ||
| I'm willing to give him a 2nd chance | 39 | 20.6 % |
| He's still the same guy. He'll prove that shortly | 72 | 38.1 % |
| Not sure, willing to wait and see | 36 | 19 % |
| Don't care | 42 | 22.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
